Community Students Learning Center: Championing Small Business Growth
- CSLC is no stranger to small businesses; we have been assisting business owners and potential business owners with business startups since 2011.
- In 2020, we were awarded a $2.5 million Tier 2 level grant for the Small Business Administration (SBA) Community Navigator Pilot Program (CNPP).
- This program, part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s American Rescue Plan Initiative, was aimed to reduce barriers that all small businesses—especially those owned by disadvantaged groups such as veterans, women, and individuals from rural communities and communities of color—often faced in accessing critical support.
- CSLC hit the ground running. Our track record is evidence that, given a chance, small non-profits work.
- During this grant cycle, CSLC-CNPP assisted 822 unique clients, trained over 2,759 entrepreneurs, and provided 3,575 one-on-one counseling hours to small business owners. The total of loans/grants submitted was $27,779,072.00, and the total new approved loans/grants is $2,168,005.00. Although our approval was not what we would like, we are aggressively working with clients to address the issues to ensure a more excellent approval rating for our clients.
Recognized for Outstanding Achievements
Our commitment to supporting and empowering small businesses was recently recognized by the Mississippi Small Business Administration for Resource Partner of the Year. This award was given because of HUB and Spokes outstanding achievements in helping people develop and improve their businesses. This prestigious acknowledgment highlights the impact of our efforts in fostering entrepreneurial growth and economic development in our community. In addition, CSLC is extremely honored and proud to have received an Excellent Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Honoring Leadership
We are also proud to celebrate Mr. Leslie (Founder) and Mrs. Beulah Greer, Executive Director of the Community Students Learning Center, who received the 2024 SBA Mississippi Small Business Champion award. Their dedication and leadership have been instrumental in driving our mission to support small businesses.
Commitment to Service
Although the CNPP grant dissolved in mid-2024, the Community Students Learning Center remains an SBA resource. We are steadfast in our commitment to serving the community with small business assistance and continue to offer a range of services designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners thrive.